The Institute for Work and Personnel Management serves as the know-how and competence platform for the exchange of expertise between the Group and the brands, regions and plants on the one hand and academic establishments such as universities, business schools and renowned institutes on the other. Research and teaching focus The focus of HR research within the IFAP is designed to support Strategy 2018. As a result, research projects are examining the correlation between employer attractiveness and corporate success, and key influences on workforce motivation. The Institute's goal is to facilitate the use of the latest scientific findings to enable excellence in personnel management within the Group. Its work is based on the eight Harvard modules of personnel management.

Findings from current research in the academic fields of psychology, business administration, the sociology of work and industry, law and industrial relations are made available in order to develop the workforce's technical competence and, at the same time, to ascertain the real-life implications of this research as far as the company is concerned. Partnerships There are currently partnerships with renowned research institutes and networks such as the Social Science Research Center in Berlin and the International Motor Vehicle Program (IMVP). Existing contacts with forward-looking faculties and researchers (including Prof. Bruch, Prof. Staudinger and Prof. von Cube) are also being developed. Selected research projects Research is conducted in form of national and international scientific projects and in conjunction with dissertations and Diploma, Master's and Bachelor's theses. Current topics include: - Human resources conditions in the BRIC countries - A comparison of personnel systems used by Japanese and German car manufacturers - Challenges posed by demographic change